Iran calls European Parliament resolution ‘a cheap act’

Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.5
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani says the recent resolution of the European Parliament on violation of human rights in Iran was a cheap act which shows their misunderstanding, Iran's IRIB reported on April 5.

"That was a cheap act. Maybe they are deceived by others. However, they should have not told those untrue statements," Larijani said.

"Taking such decisions by the European Parliament is not odd, because some seditionists in the international arena are supporting disharmony in the society. But, certainly they will find out that they were wrong."

In its resolution on Thursday, the European Parliament accused Iran of "continued, systemic violation of fundamental rights".

It was claimed in the resolution that the presidential election in Iran in July 2013 did not conform to European standards.

The resolution also called for "the release of all imprisoned human rights defenders, political prisoners, trade unionists, labor activists, and those detained after the 2009 presidential elections."

The resolution also stated that European delegations' trips to Iran should be conditioned on meeting members of political opposition groups.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday that a draft resolution against Iran by the European Parliament will not lead to an increase of sanctions against Tehran.

Zarif also said Iran will not back down from its position in nuclear talks, adding that the Iranian negotiating team under his leadership makes efforts to protect Iran's dignity.